Parnell, de Villiers script South Africa's 5-wicket win

With the help of AB de Villiers splendid fifty (70*) and Wayne Parnell s 5-wicket haul, South Africa defeated New Zealand by 5 wickets.

Written by Agence-France Presse

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Centurion:

Left-arm spinner Wayne Parnell claimed his maiden five-for to help South Africa record a comfortable five-wicket win over New Zealand and bring back their Champions Trophy campaign on track here on Thursday.

Parnell wreaked havoc with his five for 57 as New Zealand were shot out for a modest 214 after being inserted by South African captain Graeme Smith in a Group B match at a SuperSport Park pitch which assisted the spinners.

The home team then knocked down the the required runs with 8.5 overs to spare with AB de Villiers top-scoring with an unbeaten 70 to ensure that they are back in contention for a semifinal berth after their 55-run loss to Sri Lanka two days back at the same venue.

De Villiers, who played a solid 76-ball innings, which included nine fours, for his 19 one-day half century was hardly troubled by the Kiwi bowlers. He hit the winning runs - a four - as the home team reached 217 for five in 41.1 overs.

New Zealand bowlers, except for Daniel Vettori (1/34), struggled on an early season pitch which does not assist pace bowlers much. Shane Bond, who returned to international cricket recently, Daryl Tuffey and Kyle Mills claimed a wicket apiece.

South Africa made a sedate start but soon lost captain Graeme Smith for seven at team score of 22 in the sixth over.

Smith, who made a half century for a lost cause against Sri Lanka, fell to Tuffey, who bowled with accuracy. One down Jaques Kallis batted with authority and shared a 52-run stand for the second wicket with the other opener Hashim Amla to ensure that the Proteas do not lose wickets at the initial overs.

Kallis, who made some elegant shots for fours off Bond and Tuffey, fell for 39 while Amla, who held the other end together for almost half the South African innings, was out for a 65-ball 38 to become Kiwi skipper Vettori's only victim.

Duminy, who came in for Amla, did not last long as he fell for 11 to a great catch from McCullum who held on to a bottom edge off a Mill's delivery in the 27th over.

Duminy, who scored a duck in the last match, could score just 11 off 13 balls including two fours.

De Villers, who walked in at the fall of Kallis in the 17th over, and Mark Boucher (28) shared 42 runs for the fifth wicket to take South Africa closer to the target before the latter was out in the 36th over.

Albie Morkel scored 19 quick runs to remain unbeaten along with de Villiers to take South Africa to victory.

Earlier, man of the match Parnell wreaked havoc with a five-wicket haul as South Africa shot out New Zealand for a modest 214 in 47.5 overs. He accounted for all the top Kiwi batsmen including top scorer Ross Taylor, who hit a patient 72 off 106 balls.

Parnell proved his skipper's decision to invite Black Caps to bat right when he first removed Jesse Ryder (8) and then got rid of Martin Guptill (21).

Taylor hit a defiant 72 with the help of six boundaries and two sixes, and also shared a crucial 71-run partnership with Grant Elliot (39) to help his side go past 200-run mark. New Zealand batsmen got the starts but could not convert them into big knocks.

Taylor's sensible batting was the cornerstone of the Kiwi innings as he batted with resolve to prevent his team's collapse.

After the early fall Ryder, Brendon McCullum (44) and Guptill batted with resolve. McCullum hit three boundaries and two sixes in his 68-ball innings while Guptill hit four fours in his 26-ball stay.

Parnell claimed Guptill as his second victim when he had him caught by Hashim Amla. Johan Botha then accounted for McCullum.

Taylor and Elliot joined hands but could not score freely as the home team bowlers kept a tight line.

The partnership was broken when Roelof van der Merwe bowled Elliot, who hit four boundaries in his 48-ball stay at the crease.

Taylor opened up late in the innings and scored some quick runs but did not find any able ally from the other end.